Machine for making expanded metal.



PATENTE!) JULY 2, 1-907.

L. o. STELLE.

MACHINE POR MAKING BXPANDBD METAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES PATENTED JULY 2, 1907.

L. G. STEELE. MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDBD METAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1906.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES o.) INVENTOR mwa/ma@ fmcg. Stm.. mi (i gra;

@ /Ki@ www; y n a PATENTED JULY 2,V 1907. L. C. STEELE. MACHINE POR MAKING EXPANDED METAL APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR andexact description therwf..

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' rr I nrns; Pira LAwsENosfo. STEELE', or' PITTsBUsG, PENNSYLVANIA.

rss son Maxine Earns-DED mirar..

l, Specificationof Letters jPatent. hpplioatin filed August 20, 1996. Serial No. 831,812;

I `This invention relates to machines for making whatis lexpanded metal, and the object of the inventionfis toprovide a machine of thisch'aracter whose operation is'simple and morefexp'editious and whose output is'much greater than'machines Ahel-etoi'ore used..

I One type .of machine for making expanded metal, viz. the Golding, machine, consists of a stationery cuttingk blade anda co-operating reciprocating cutting lblade acting to slitand expandn orstretch t e slitted portion of the metal. ln the loperatijtm-of machines' of*` thisfcharacter the plate is feld forward intermittently, `and is also fed sidewise aft-er each slittinggand expandl My linvention 'comprises a'rnachine acting on the same principle as the so-'called reciprocating machines l of the Golding type above described, but so constructed that the plate is f'edforward continuously and requires no sidewise feeding, thus enabling the'machine to be operated very rapidly and securing a large output.

The invention consists, generally stated, in a rotary cylinder or drum carrying one or more serratd'd blades, the serrations beingarranged in alternative or staggeredrelation, and having ctx-operating with the same a relatively stationaryblade and the necessary actuating mechanism whereby the rotation of the drum car-A` ries the blades thereon around to successively co-operate with the relatively stationary blade to slit and expand the metal, so that a number of slits in the metal may be l made during each rotation of the drum or cylinder; and

providing said machine with continuously acting mechanismjfor feeding the plate to the blades, boththe stationary and movable blades being so 'mounted and arranged as to move with the travel ofthe plate while being fed. l

' In the'accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elekvation'df a machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line 2--2, Fig. 1; Fig; 43 is aplan view of the same; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.-4, Fig. 3; and Figs. 5 and are-sectional details snowing aniodification.

The essentials of` my machine comprise a-relatively stationary straight edged anvil blade 1 mounted on a bar or beam 2 and a number of serrated movable slitting and expanding blades 3 mounted'upon bars 4 which in turn are mounted on the periphery of 'a cylinder or drum 5, the latterv beine mounted in suitable bearings 6 and Patented :muyl 2.1907.

rotated byaiiysuitable mechanism, such as a gear 8 on gth'e end of the shaft 9 of said cylinder or drilm. Thel bars 4 4carrying the blades 3 are arranged, as shown, parallel to the axis of thedrum, and so mounted that the edges of the blades 3 can move ltoward and from' the axis oi the drum, both for the purpose yof clearing the work after completing the cuttingand slitting operation, and also ior the. purposeof yielding or travelngwith the feed oi the plate 1 0 being slit.. This movement of the blades may be secured in various ways. 4Asshown in the drawings, the upper. edges'oi the several bars are -curved as shown at 11 and fit in correspondingly curved f seats in the drumy or cylinder, so that in effect said bars are pivoted at the centers oi these curves, and can swing .on said centers seas to move the blades toward and from the axis of the drumor cylinder. The relatively stationary blade 2 also is slightly movable so as to travel with the plate 10 vaait is being fed forward. This movement also may be obtained ina variety vof ways. As shown, the bar 2 carrying said blade is pivoted atl2 and is provided with an arm 13 bearing against a cam 14 which may be rotated from any suitable source of power, such as by connecting its shaft to the shaft 9'of the dru 5 by gears l5, 16 and 17.

' The feeding mechanism comprises a suitable 'table 19 in front of the drum 5, said table having mounted adjacent to the drum a pair of rollers 20 and 2l, the bottom one of which is shown as positively driven by a gear 22 on its shaft meshing with a gear 23 on the drum shaft 9,

whilethe top roller 2l is pressed by adjustable springs 24 against the plate being fed forward. In addition to these rollers I make use of pushers 25mounted' in suitable guide-ways in the table and adapted to be movedin either direction by any suitable mechanism, that shown comprising racks 26 on the pushers and meshing with pinions 27 on a shaft 28 located under the table and extending transversely thereof` This shaft 28 is driven in either direction by the train of gearing shown in the drawings but which obviously may be replaced by any other well known gearing. This gearing comprises a gear 29 meshing with' the driven gear 22 on the roller' 20,

said gear 29 in turn meshing with a gear 30 fixed to a common shaft with a larger gear 31. -The gear 30 meshes with another gear 32 which in turn meshes with a gear 33 on the shaft 28, while the larger lgear 31 is connected by l the intermediate gears 34 and 35 to a. pinion or ysmaller gear 36 on the shaft 28. The gears 29, 30, 31, 32, 34 and 35are mounted ina suitably movable frame, such as shown at 37 and the arrangement of the gears is such that onlyfope of the gears 32 or 35 can be in mcsih at a time with'fits companion gear on the shaft 28. This 'rame can be moved in any suitable way so as to bring Y either of said trains of gears into action. When the plate g is being fed forward the shaftl 28 is driven from the gear 22 and through the gears 29, 30, 32 and 33,'thus giving a slow forward feed to the plate 10. When this plate has been entirely cut and expanded it is necessary to withdraw the pusliers 25 in order'to inserta new plate, and

when this is done by moving the frame 37 the reverse feed is gotten from gear 22 through gears 29, 30, 31, 34, and 36, thusgiving aquick return to the pushers. The rollers'20 and 21 are cut away, as shown at 39, so as to allow thepushers 25 to pass through the same and apfproach closely to the blades. This prevents scrap at the end of the plate.

n win be observed that the' feed of the 'plaie is con; tinuous and consequently tile cutting blades must travel with the plate while cutting and expanding the same. This is accomplished by the cam 14 which serves to move' the relatively stationary blade l slightly in the line of feed oi the platewhile cutting, and inasmuch as vthe blades on the cylinder or drum are em-` bedded in the metal during this operation they are also moved lalong with the forward feed of the plate. lprefer, however, to provide additional positive means in the form of a Cain for moving the cylinder blades with the forward travel of the plate. This additional means 'may' take the form of a cam groove 40 formed in stajecting portion45 arranged to engage directly with the bars 4, or, vice versa, provide the bars 4 with projecting ing the slitting and expanding movement and will which, groove 'or grooves are adapted to receive trunnions or pins 42 on the lower portions of the ends oi the bars' 4. The cam groove 40 is concentric with the axis of the drum for the major portion of its course'but opposite the slitting point is provided with a portion 43 which has a slight inward trend, sufficient to cause the blade to' move inwardly with the feed of the plate I0 while being cut,'said groove then having another portion 44 which hasl a relatively sharp trend so that when the slitting and expansion is completed, the blade on the drum is moved sharply inwardly so as to clear the expanded sheet.

In lieu of this cam groove 40 I may, as shown in Figs. 5`and 6, provide the stationary blade bar 2 with a proportions 'arranged to engage the bar 2, said projecting pprtion in either case having a face 46 which will be in engagement with the trunnion or pin 42 of the bar 4 durcause the bar 4 to move inwardly with 'the bar 2 and correspondingto the forward feed of the plate l0, said 5vprojection then having a cam portion 47 which will cause the bar 4 to be moved abruptly inwardly to clear vthe work;

The operation of myfmachine will be readily understood from the foregoing description. The plate on the table 19 is ed continuously by the mechanism described. It has no sidewise feed because the serrations of the4 several blades 3 are arranged alternately as shownyin Fig. 2. The rotation of the cylinder 4 carries the several knife carrying bars 4 around to co-operai'e in succession with the relatively stationary knife Vl, so that for cach rotation of the cylinder or drum a consid erablc number of slitting and expanding operations on the plate are effected. Both sets of knives wliile acting on the metal move along with the plate, so thai the iced of th o latter can bc continuous and uninterru pted.` The cam formation described acts to "move the knives aangaan.

the expansion is complete, thus clearing the work.

The output of the machine described is Lvery materially greater' than thatof reciprocating machines hav ing the same action on the metal. Furthermore, the feed is continuous and uninterrupted and consequent/ly is more uniform than that of an intermittent feed.

The mechanical details of many parts of the machine can be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention. For instance, various forms of feeding mechanism will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, various mechanical devices-may be employed for getting the necessary movements of the two sets of bladesiorwardly with the plate while being cut, and also to get 'the necessary movement of the cylinder blades in order to clear the work, i I u What I claim is: y

i. In n metal expanding mixchine, the combination of n cylinder or drum mounted to' rotate .constantly in the slime direction, a serrated slitting and expanding knife carried by the cylinder und arranged with its edge sul stantlally parallel to the axis thereof, nml n :ro-operating anvil knife arranged parallel to said cylinder.

cylinder or drum mounted to rotate constantly ln the sume cylinder" and arranged with its cdgesubstnntiully pnrnllel to the axis thereof, a :ro-operating anvil knife arranged parallel to the cylinder. and means for effecting disengagement between the movable knife and the work nt the end of the cutting and exp'nndlng operations.

3. In u metal expanding machlne,\the combination of n rotating'cylinder or drum, u plurality of serrated slitting and expanding knives carried hy the cylinder and arranged substantially pnrullel to the axis of 'the cylndcrnnd with the serrntions of successive knives in alternation, and n. co-opcrutlng slitting find expanding knife arranged pall*- allel io the uxls of the cylinder. A

4. In n metal expandingr machine, the combination of a rotating cylinder or drum, a plurality of serrated slitting und expanding,r knives carl-lcd by the cylinder and arranged substantially pnrnllel to the nxls thereof und with the sei-rations of succeedingr knives in alternation, a co-operutlng slitting and cutting knife arranged parallel lto the axis of the cylinder', und menus for effecting disengagement between the movable knives and the work at the and of the respective cutting and expanding operations.

il. rotating cylinder or drum, n bur mounted thereon und tirrnnged longitudinally thereof nndcurrying a slitting and expanding knife, Suid bur being movable toward and from the axis of the cylinder', n copper-ating slitting and expanding knife arranged pnrullci to the cylinder, and means for moving,r the knife bnr of the cylinder toward the cylinder nxls nt the end of the cutting and expanding operation.

thereof-and mounted thereon so ns to be movable toward and from iis axis, u slitting und expanding knife carried by said bnr, u co-operntlng knife arranged parallel to the cylinder, und a cam arranged to move the knife har of the cylinder toward the uxis thereof at the end of the slitting and expanding operation. i

7. In u nictnl expanding machine, the combination of n rotating cylinder or drum, n plurality of lbars extending longitudinally thereof und mounted to move toward und from the nxls thereof, each bnry carrying n knife, n cooperating,r knife arranged parallel to the drum, und nicnns for moving thc knife bars of the cylinder toward the uxls thereof at the end of the'silttlng and expanding oprntlon of each' knife.

S..ln n metal expanding,r machine, the combination of n rotating cylinder or drum, n plurality of bars extending longitudinally thereof and mounted thereon no ns to be movable toward und from its axis, a knife carried by each or blades on the cylinders sharply inwardly as soon as in a metal expanding,V machine, the combination of a direction. a slitting und expanding knife carried by the' (l. in n metai'expandlng machine, the combination of n ,l rotaiingcyllnder or drum, n bar extending longitudinally ln u metal expanding machine, the combination of u and a cam arranged to move enchjmlfe bar on the cylinder :fand expandingpperatlo 5` v 9.1:: u metal expandiig chine, the combination of a lfbtating cylinder orldrum, a' ,harextending longitudinally of the dxjum and pivtallyconneeted thereto so as to move Vtour/and, and 'from 'th'enxi of :thecylindena knife carried-v g `byl1:l 1efhar, a 'co-opeat knife arranged parallel to the' ['0 cylinder, and 'ieanaljfo' moving the cylinder knife ban toyvardaxis of the cylinder.

I1li. In ametfal expanding 1n vvc ooperating feeding mechanism; `means J ing the knives vvhlle `cutting to ivefoi-wardly wllthtllevfeedot the plate, and means for eitectlng adisengngem'elit ofthe knives from `the rk lit/the end of thecuttlng and expanding operation. 1,1.L ln metalexpanding' machine, the comblnat-ionof a vab serrated slitting and expanding knife,I a" ooperat- 20 'ingfanvll imite, con nuous'fieeding mechanism forthe plate, Land. .means fb ovlng .sind knivesv whilemcutting.

:with tiielfoxjvvard le' the blade;y if? Y 12. lnla metal expe ing machinetne combination of a movable serrated slitting andexpanding knitefa ,cooperat 25 ing anvii knitc, fontinuqns ie'edlng mechanism for the plate; said knives. belngairanged to` 'move` wliiiel cutting.

with the'forwaid feed'of the plate', and means for eiffectin'g disengagement be'tvvec'n vthe movable knife and plate at the 'ltowardthe axis o f said'cyiinde atthe and of Atnecutting 'end of thecuttlng and expanding operation. I

13. In a'metnl expanding machine, thefcombinatlon Iof rotating cylinder or drum@ slitting and expandlngknife f arranged longitudinally 'A thereon, a, cooperating wvil -knife arranged parallel to t `he.cylinden,' continuons plate feedingwmechaniam, meansffgr `moving the knives while cutting with the plate, and means for effecting a disen- 35 gngement of the cylinder knife and theworkat the end of the -cutting and expanding operation.

14.l In a metal expanding machine, the combination of a rotating cylinder or drum, a slitting and expanding knife arranged longitudinally thereon andmounted ,to move 4()` toward and from the axis of the cylinder, a zo-operating knife arranged parallel to the cylinder, continuous plate .feeding mechanism, and means for moving said knives while cutting with the feed o f the plate. i

15. In a metal expanding machine, 'the combination of a 45 rotating cylinder or drum, a slitting and expanding knife mounted thereon and arranged longitudinally and movable toward and from the' axis of thedrum, a co-operating knife `aijanged parallel to `the drum, continuous plate feeding mechanism, 'and a cam for moving said'knives tovvax'dthe1,5()v

axis of the drum whilecutting.

i 16. l'In a metal expanding mae'hine,th combination of a `1'otaftlng'-cylinder or'drum, a plurality .of bar s mounted longitudinally thereon so as to move towai'dnnd fim the nxisof said drum,` knives carried by 'achbnacooperatL 55 ing knife arranged parallel to 'the drum, continuously. act-V ing feeding mechanism arranged to eedl,the plate toward' theaxisof the drum, means foif'moving'the cooperating knife' while ''umng with me :eed di the 'platepiinu 'means for 'then moving the cylinder knives' lfurther vtovvaxgd the 60 i axis' of theorem to clear me wail?. n. :.7 'Y 

